Window frame mitering apparatus



June 1o, 1969` 1w. ARMSTRQNG 3,448,976

y I WINDOW FRAME MITERING APPARATUS v Filed may 15,-1967 ,shet of s E25 4 Joe WARE ARMSTRONG BY www 1M Z'TORNEX June l0, 1969 A J. w. ARMSTRONG 3,448,976

y WINDOW FRAME MITERING APPARATUS Filed May 15, 1967 sheet of s was j?, //////i J4 76 INVENTOIL E549 J0 E5. 7 JOE WARE ARMSTRONG l www TTORNEK June 10, 1969 J, w ARMSTRONG '3,448,976

WINDOW FRAME MITERING APPARATUS Filed May 15, 1967 sheet 5 of s '/QZZ n? I f114 L" 94 mvENTOR.v

4a 10E WARE ARMSTRONG A TTJPNEX United States Patent O 3,448,976 WINDOW FRAME MITERING APPARATUS Joe Ware Armstrong, 1723 W. Camelback, Phoenix, Ariz. 85015 Filed May 15, 1967, Ser. No. 638,464 Int. Cl. B25b 1/20 U.S. Cl. 269-37 3 Claims ABSTRACT F THE DISCLOSURE A universally adjustable jig and mitering apparatus particularly 'adapted to assembling and simultaneously cutting the miter joints of overlapping pairs of frame side members together with measuring devices for precisely initially positioning the screen frame or window frame for accurate cutting to length and mitering of the abutting end portions of the sides of the frame.

Background of the invention (l) The field of this invention lies in apparatus for forming the side members of a window frame and the like to accurate precise predetermined dimensions.

(2) Heretofore it has been necessary to individually cut and measure the sides, top 'and bottom of a window frame such as a shade screen for an automobile window by the laborious process of first measuring the window of the vehicle and then measuring each side and cutting it individually 'and attempting to miter and bevel the for accurate cutting to length and miltering of the edges for appropriate fitting of the corners.

This has been very difficult, if not impossible, when the window has curved portions to get the miter joints to abut accurately and positively together.

It has also been a difficult and costly procedure to attempt to make an original template from the window of the motor vehicle which in many cases is of peculiar and unusual form and then try to lay out the strips accurately by hand, one at a time. Errors in the fitting and in the Iappearance of the joints and the costly time consuming effort in trying to correct, modify and adjust the finished frame have precluded a successful use of such frames for motor vehicles on a Widely extended basis. v

Summary of the invention In applicants invention it is an object to provide a universally adjustable fixture and miter box arrangement which quickly and effectively positions all of the elements of the frame to be constructed and then to simultaneously cut through the overlapping ends at the miter joints to form a perfect fit both accurate in dimension and excellent in appearance.

Still another object is to provide a fixture and miter box device of universal character which can bend and deform the sides, top and bottom members of the frame to conform them to curvaceous windows upon which the finished frames are to be mounted, such as found in motor vehicles.

Still another object is to provide a measuring system and parallelogram linkage structure in the aforementioned fixture jig and miter box apparatus for quickly `and accurately positioning the frame elements from quickly taken dimensions of the window to be fitted.

3,448,976 Patented June 10, 1969 Fice Brief description of the drawings FIG. 1 is a plan view of the window frame fixture and mitering apparatus (shown in dotted lines in one corner only) incorporating the features of this invention.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged sectional View on the line 2-2 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged sectional View on the line 3 3 of FIG. l. y

FIG. 4 is 'an enlarged fragmentary sectional view on the line 4 4 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is a greatly enlarged fragmentary plan view particularly showing one of the mitering saw holding elements provided at the four corners of the apparatus shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view on the line 6-6 of FIG. 5.

FIG. 7 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view on the line 7--7 of FIG. 5.

FIG. 8 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view on the line 8-8 of FIG. 7.

FIG. 9 is a Adiagram of the essential operative elements of the apparatus.

FIG. 10 is a fragmentary plan view similar to FIG. 5 but showing the mitering elements associated with a curved frame.

Description of the preferred embodiment As an example of a preferred embodiment of the invention there is shown a universal window frame fixture and mitering apparatus comprising a base plate 10 to which is fixed a pair of guide rails 11 and 12 forming parallel laterally spaced iguideway surfaces 13. A pair of bottom slides 14 and 15 are suitably supported on the guide rails 11 and 12 and are arranged to slide between the surfaces 13. Appropriate telescoping scale pieces 16 and 17 are connected by suitable brackets 18 and 19 to the respective slides 14 and 15 and have scales 20 and 21 fixed thereto having appropriate indicia 22-23 indicatively related to each other to determine the spacing of the slides 14 and 15 and to determine the length of the bottom frame member 2'4.

Appropriate manipulating handle brackets 25 and 26 are fixed to the slides 14 and 15 and to the scale pieces 16 and 17 to facilitate positioning of the slides on the guideways 13 and to provide bearing surfaces for the clamp brackets 97. A clamping device comprising a bracket 27 fixed by suitable screws 28 to the base plate 10 has a clamping screw 29 with a hand wheel 30 fixed to its outer end threaded into the bracket at 31. The inner end of the screw engages a pressure plate 32 having an abutment surface 33 arranged to engage the outer edge 34 of the scale piece 17 so as to clamp both of the scale pieces 16 and 17 to the side surface 35 of the guide rail 11 to secure the slides 14 and 15 in selected spaced position.

A pair of perpendicularly disposed guide rails 36 and 37 are fixed to the base plate extending from an ntermediate point of the ends of the guide rails 11 and 12 having guideway surfaces 38 between which slides the Vertical height slide 39. A clamp plate 40 is fixed to the slide 39 by suitable brackets 41 and 42. A top horizontal guide rail member 43 is suitably fixed to the slide 39 and clamp plate 40 on top of which is fixed the horizontal guide rail members 44 and 45 forming the guideway surfaces 46 between which is slidably mounted the top slides 3 47 and 48 to which are fixed the scale pieces y49 and 50 lby suitable brackets 50a `and 51 and the manipulating handle brackets 52 and 53 which also provide bearing surfaces for clamp brackets 97. Suitable scales '54 and 55 are fixed to the scale pieces 49 and 50 having indicia 56 and 57 indicatively related to each other.

A clamp device comprising a clamp screw 58 having a handwheel 59 is t-hreadedly mounted at 60 in a bracket fixed to the clamp plate 440 rwith the outer end of the clamp screw engaging a clamp block 61 which engages the outer surface 62 of the scale piece 50 to clamp both scale pieces -49 and 50 to the outside surface 63 of the guide rail 45 for securing the top slides 47 and 48 in selected positions on the top guide rail 43.

A clamping device for locking the vertical height slide 39 to the perpendicular guide rails 36-37 comprises a block `64 lixed to the top surfaces of the guide rails 44 and `45 having a bracket 65 on its top with a threaded bore 66 receiving a clamping screw 67 having operating handwheel `68. The outer end of the screw 67 is arranged to engage a pressure plate 69 which engages one side of a scale supporting bar 70 which is slidably -liXed on the support brackets 71 which are rigidly fixed to the perpendicular guide rails 36 and 37 so as to support the bar 70 above the vertical height slide 39, tightening of the clamp screw 67 securing the slide 39 against movement relative to the base plate |and the scale support bar 70. A suitable vertical height scale 72 is xed to the top of the scale support bar 70 for measuring various heights of frames.

Each of the slides 14, 15, 47 and 48 have vertically disposed saw guide pins 73, 74, 75 land 76 having diametrically formed saw guide slots 77, each of the pins being pivotally mounted by a suitable bearing 78 in the respective slides. Side frame bars 79 and `80 are pivotally mounted about the saw guide pins 73 and 74 immediately above the slides 14 and 15 while the saiw guide pins 75 and 76 are received in the elongated slots 81 and 82 formed in the bars 79 and 80. A scale 183 is iixed to the side frame bar 79 adjacent the slot `81 having indicia 84 adjacent the edge `85 of the scale contacting the saw guide pin 75 and indicatively related to the indicating pointer 86 carried on the slide 47.

Automatic corner work positioning devices indicated generally at 87 comprise a plate 88 adapted to be pivotally mounted on each of the pins 73, 74, 75 and 76 and held in xed relation by the pins =89 'with the slot 77 of the pins in longitudinal alignment with the longitudinal extent ofthe plates 88. A backup saw guide member 90 has a saw guide slot 91 maintained in alignment 'with the saw guide slot 77 in the pins 73, 74, 75 and 76 by guide sleeves 92 fixed thereto and slidingly mounted on the plate 88, yielding tension spring means 93 serving to normally radially move the saw guide members toward the saw guide pins for any relatively swung position of the plates 88 and the slides and side frame bars.

Work positioning and gripping devices indicated generally at 94 are adapted to be mounted above each of the slides 14, 15, 47 and 48 comprise a plate 95 pivotally mounted at one end 96 about the saw guide pins and are provided with suitable integral brackets 97 which are supported on -the bearing surfaces `of the respective manipulating handle brackets 25, 26, 52 vand 53. A work locater piece l98a having positioning surface 99 is -iixed to the plate 100 secured to the plate 95. A suitable clamp screw 101 having the handwheel 102 is threadedly mounted in the boss 103 fixed to the plate .100, the inner end of the screw 94 engaging a clamp plate 104 for securing a bottom frame member 24 in operative position, the top frame member 105 being similarly located and clamped in its desired position. Similar clamp devices indicated generally at 106 are carried on the Side frame bars 79 and i80 for locating and gripping the side frame members 107 and 108 to be operated upon.

The basic operation of the above described device is best understood by reference to the diagram in FIG. 9 wherein it will be noted that the saw guide pins 73 and 74 have independent adjustment and movement in a common plane to and from each other as indicated by the arrows 116, the pins being clamped to the bottom frame 24 at desired spaced positions as determined from the setting scales 20 and 21, with the outside surface 110 of the frame member 24 engaging the pins as shown. The upper pins and 76 are mounted on the respective top slides 57 and 48 to have movement to and from each other as indicated by the direction arrows 111, and to have movement simultaneously to and from the pins 73 and 74 as indicated by the arrows 112, and arcuate swinging movement about the axes 113 of the pins 73 and 74. The upper frame member has its outside surface 114 against the pins 75 and 76 while the side frame members 107 and 108 have their outside surfaces 115 bearing against the same pins. The backup saw guide members have automatic equalizing swinging movement about the axes of the pins 73, 74, 75 and 76 as indicated by the arrows 116 so that the end edges 117 of the saw guide member 90 both engage the inner surfaces 118 of the frame elements to be operated upon. With the frame elements thus positioned a saw is placed inthe slots of members 73, 74, 75 and 76 and in the aligned slots in members 90 and the two frame members are cut in miter joint along lines 119 at the same setting so that the abutting edges of the mitered frame members fit perfectly together. If required, the frame members may be bent or curved as shown in broken line at 24a and 105a and the side members also to fit any window frame configuration desired before the iinal cutting of the mitered joints so as to at Aall times maintain accurately Iitting corners.

While the apparatus herein disclosed and described constitutes a preferred lform of the invention, it is also to be understood that the apparatus is capable of mechanical alteration `without departing from the spirit of the invention and that such mechanical arrangement and commercial ladaptation as fall within the scope of the appendent claims are intended to be included herein.

I claim:

1. Universal window frame fixture and mitering apparatus comprising in combination:

(A) a base plate,

(B) a lower pair of spaced saw guide pins adjustably mtgvable on said base plate radially to and from each oer,

(C) an upper pair of spaced saw guide pins adjustably movable on said base plate radially to and vfrom each other, and also simultaneously adjustably movable radially of said lower pair of saw guide pins,

(D) side frame bars on said frame pivotally mounted at their lower ends to swing about the axes of said lower saw guide pins and to longitudinally slidably and pivotally move about the axes of said upper saw guide pins,

(E) work positioning and gripping devices connected with each of said saw guide pins to secure the frame members to be mitered in a position with the outside surfaces of said frame members in contact with the periphery of said saw guide pins,

(F) backup saw guide members connected to each of said saw guide pins having a pair of laterally spaced 'work engaging end edges engaging the inside surfaces of the frame members Vto be mitered,

(G) 'and aligned saiw receiving slots in said saw guide pins and said backup saw guide members defining a plane of miter sawing crossing the intersection of said frame elements when clamped in said apparatus.

2. An apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said saw guide members are xed to said saw guide pins to swivel therewith about their axes of said saw guide pins with the backup saw guide members having yielding movement normally radially toward said saw guide pins.

3. An `apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said l5 backup salw guide members automatically move the intersecting ends of said frame members into contact with the saw guide pins.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 119,151 9/1871 Johnson 269-87.2

6 177,605 5/ 1876 Wieting 269-1872 565,652 8/1896 Walter et al. 143-90 3,392,972 7/196'8 Wing 269--87.2

DONALD R. SCHRAN, Primary Examiner.

U.S. Cl. X.R. 143-87; 269-872 

